Shock absorbing stopper

Abstract

A shock absorbing stopper 4 is provided on an automobile body which an engine E is mounted via an engine mount 3 at a portion in front of the engine E and is for absorbing an impact force generated due to the collision between the engine E and automobile body. The shock absorbing stopper 4 is composed of a first buffer member 41 and a second buffer member 42 each having different shock absorbing characteristics mounted in the lengthwise direction of the automobile body. By such a construction, the impact force can be absorbed in a step-by-step manner and thus, the absorbing efficiency can be enhanced.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A shock absorbing stopper provided on an automobile body on which an engine is mounted via an engine mount, the shock absorbing stopper is disposed at a portion in front of the engine and is for absorbing an impact force generated due to a collision between the engine and automobile body, the shock absorbing stopper comprising a first buffer member and a second buffer member each having different shock absorbing characteristics mounted in a lengthwise direction of the automobile body. 
     
     
       2. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  1 , which is composed of the first buffer member in contact with the engine which absorbs an impact force due to elastic deformation, and the second buffer member mounted between the first buffer member and the automobile body, which absorbs the impact force transmitted from the first buffer member due to flexible deformation. 
     
     
       3. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  2 , wherein either or both of the first buffer member and the second buffer member and the mounting of the second buffer member and the automobile body are mounted in a detachable manner. 
     
     
       4. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  3 , wherein said second buffer member is a bracket having a U-shape cross section and having a connecting portion to be connected to the first buffer member, a mounting portion to be mounted on the automobile body, and a bent portion exhibiting a function of the flexible deformation provided on the bracket. 
     
     
       5. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  2 , wherein said second buffer member is a bracket having a U-shape cross section and having a connecting portion to be connected to the first buffer member, a mounting portion to be mounted on the automobile body, and a bent portion exhibiting a function of the flexible deformation provided on the bracket. 
     
     
       6. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  1 , wherein either or both of the first buffer member and the second buffer member and the mounting of the second buffer member and the automobile body are mounted in a detachable manner. 
     
     
       7. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  6 , wherein said second buffer member is a bracket having a U-shape cross section and having a connecting portion to be connected to the first buffer member, a mounting portion to be mounted on the automobile body, and a bent portion exhibiting a function of flexible deformation provided on the bracket. 
     
     
       8. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  1 , where said second buffer member is a bracket having a U-shape cross section and having a connecting portion to be connected to the first buffer member, a mounting portion to be mounted on the automobile body, and a bent portion exhibiting a function of flexible deformation provided on the bracket. 
     
     
       9. The shock absorbing stopper as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the first buffer member is positioned in series behind the second buffer member, so that, during the collision between the engine and the automobile body, the first buffer member contacts the engine before the second buffer is deformed by the collision. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle, comprising: 
       two side frames extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the longitudinal direction of the vehicle being parallel to an axis running from a rear to a front of the vehicle, and a subframe connected to the two side frames and extending in a lateral direction of the vehicle that is transverse to the longitudinal direction;  
       an engine positioned substantially between the two side frames in the lateral direction of the vehicle;  
       a shock absorbing stopper mounted to the subframe in front of the engine so as to absorb an impact of the engine against the subframe during a front end collision of the vehicle, the shock absorbing stopper comprising a first buffer member and a second buffer member;  
       wherein the first buffer member and the second buffer member have different shock absorbing characteristics.  
     
     
       11. The vehicle according to claim  10 , wherein the first buffer member is positioned in series behind the second buffer member so that, during the front end collision of the vehicle, the engine collides with the first buffer member and compresses the first buffer member before causing deformation of the second buffer member. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle according to claim  11 , wherein the first buffer member is substantially made of an elastomeric material and the second buffer member is bolted to the subframe. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle according to claim  10 , wherein the shock absorbing stopper is substantially centered in the lateral direction with respect to the subframe. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle according to claim  10 , wherein the second buffer member is a bracket having a U-shape cross section opened towards the front of the vehicle and comprises: 
       a connecting portion at one end of the bracket nearest the engine that connects to the first buffer member,  
       a mounting portion mounted to the subframe; and  
       a bent portion that causes the bracket to collapse upon receiving a force in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle during the front end collision of the vehicle.  
     
     
       15. The vehicle according to claim  14 , wherein the second buffer member is coupled to the subframe so as to be detachable without permanently altering the second buffer member and subframe, and wherein the first buffer member is coupled to the second buffer member so as to be detachable without permanently altering the first buffer member and the second buffer member. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle according to claim  10 , wherein a cross-section of the second buffer member taken along a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle has a substantial U-shape.